Alleviate menopausal symptoms without hormone replacement therapy?

Hormone Replacement Therapy? Natural therapy options during menopause

Menopausal women often experience typical symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disorders and mood swings. In the past, however, hormones were often used. But then there was growing evidence that this therapy is associated with health risks and by no means works for all women. In many cases, natural measures against menopausal symptoms can help anyway.

Complaints not with every woman

With every woman the menopause is noticeable differently. While one feels no symptoms at all, the other suffers severe symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances and mood swings. As the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare (IQWiG) reports on its patient information portal, the most effective treatment is hormone treatment, but even without therapy, the symptoms of almost all affected women decline over time and eventually go away by themselves. There are also various natural therapy options available.

Many women experience menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes. Often it is then put on hormone replacement therapy. But natural therapy options can also help. (Image: britta60 / fotolia.com)

Numerous menopausal symptoms

On average, menopause - the last menstrual period - starts at the beginning of 50. However, some women report already at the age of 40 of the first signs of onset of menopause.

Menopause is not a disease, but part of the woman's natural aging process, which involves the hormonal balance - especially the proportion of sex hormones, progestogens and estrogens.

How the hormonal changes in the body are experienced is very individual. Already with the diminished production of the female hormone estrogen (premenopause) first symptoms can appear.

The list of menopausal symptoms is long: hot flashes and palpitations, sleep disturbances, depressive moods, dryness and infections of the vagina and urinary tract disorders are just some of them.

They all have a strong influence on the quality of life.

Hormone treatment with side effects

For a long time, hormone replacement therapy (HET) was considered the most important form of treatment. But then increased evidence of severe side effects.

For example, US researchers last year reported that hormone replacement therapy during menopause can cause hearing loss.

And earlier in a study showed that this treatment favors ovarian cancer.

In addition, the therapy has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Misinterpreted study

Especially the WHI study stopped many of the hormone therapy:

"Hundreds of thousands of women in the study, whose analyzes have been published since 2002, discontinued the hormone preparations or were not treated adequately, because the assumption was that hormone replacement therapy (HET) consistently carries health risks," according to the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics Association (DGGG) in a communication.

But two years ago, the authors of the WHI study in a publication of the journal "New England Journal of Medicine" on the years, erroneous interpretations of their study data pointed.

"The WHI study was conducted in women whose mean age at the beginning of therapy was 63 years. Above all, the question should be clarified as to whether prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system is possible even in this relatively high age for starting hormone replacement therapy ", explains the DGGG.

"These were predominantly study participants who had already passed the menopause years ago. In addition, about every second of these women had significant risks, such as marked obesity and hypertension, or they were smokers; In some cases, pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or coronary heart disease existed. "

In addition, only a single, largely unusual in Europe preparation was tested in a too high for the age group mentioned dosage.

The question of whether women with a healthy cardiovascular system during menopause can benefit from hormone replacement therapy and whether health risks can arise from treatment in this age group was not asked in the WHI study.

Nevertheless, the study data were misinterpreted by the media, but also by doctors, so that a general warning was given before the application of hormone replacement therapy during menopause.

Herbal agents and therapies

According to Dr. med. Martin Bäuerle, one of the leading physicians of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Alb-Donau Klinikum, Blaubeuren, Germany, it always depends on the individual case, whether a hormone therapy makes sense.

According to a statement by the "ADK GmbH for Health and Social Affairs", the expert at a health forum explained that herbal active ingredients and therapies are being further researched.

Herbal preparations, which are found in various foods, but also homeopathic preparations can be sufficient according to Bäuerle in some cases.

Thus, chaste tree or black cohosh can have a regulating effect on the hormone balance. And melissa, valerian or passion flower help with insomnia.

Herbal medications may also be suitable for supplementing prescribed hormone therapy - always in consultation with a doctor, taking into account possible interactions.

It should be noted that herbal medicines also have side effects and may interact with drugs.

Balanced diet and adequate exercise

Highly recommended is a balanced, low carbohydrate diet, less meat for more vegetables and fruits.

In addition, many women feel better when they move sufficiently - in the endurance area, such as walking and dancing, or with movement that can be integrated into everyday life.

"Avoiding too much stimulant, such as nicotine, alcohol, or coffee, basically supports any therapeutic intervention," Dr. Bäuerle.

In extreme hot flashes, it is advisable to wear linen made of natural fibers such as cotton or to dress in onion-shell technique, so clothes in several layers, which you can put on or take off depending on the heat / cold sensation.

Often also cool washes, lukewarm half baths or alternating showers to keep the concomitant symptoms of menopause a little in the bridle. Massages and sauna visits are good not only for the complaints, but also for the soul. (Ad)